The Las Vegas Raiders have been busy remaking the roster that failed to get to the postseason in head coach Josh McDaniels’s first year with the team.
Offensively, the Raiders will look vastly different with Jimmy Garoppolo under center. Garoppolo signed a three-year deal with Las Vegas and the organization seems intent on letting McDaniels work things out with his preferred signal caller.
Outside of quarterback, though, the Raiders made a surprising change at the tight end position as they traded away Darren Waller to the New York Giants. With Waller no longer on the roster, Las Vegas began to fill the tight end room when they signed O.J. Howard to a one-year deal.
According to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN, Las Vegas wasn’t done adding at that position as they’ve also signed free agent Austin Hooper to a reported one-year deal:
Having traded a former Pro Bowler away at the start of free agency in Darren Waller , the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday reached a free agent deal with another former Pro Bowler in Austin Hooper.
Terms were not disclosed by the Raiders, but a source confirmed to ESPN that Hooper, who spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, agreed to a one-year deal.
Hooper’s one season with the Titans was underwhelming as he only recorded 41 catches and two touchdowns, though most of his production did come late in the 2022 season. His resurgence down the stretch should breed some optimism that he can hit the ground running with the Raiders.
Garoppolo isn’t much of a downfield thrower but has shown his proficiency throwing in the short to mid areas of the field where tight ends like Hooper flourish. Alongside Davante Adams, who will always be the focus of an opposing defense, Hooper should be able to make his hay in the intermediate sections and keep the chains moving for the Las Vegas offense.
The fact that Hooper and Howard are only on one-year deals means the Raiders could be eyeing some of the tight end prospects in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. This year’s class is particularly talented, meaning the Silver and Black could find their starter of the future if they choose to go in that direction.
Regardless, this is a big year for the Raiders as they look to finally get back to the playoffs after such a long layoff. The fans deserve to see their team competing at the highest levels, so hopefully, the front office continues to search for ways to maximize this roster.
